AP source: Kirschner named interim AD at Rutgers

NEWARK, N.J. 
A source with knowledge of the appointment says Rutgers is turning to former dean Carl Kirschner to run its athletic department in the wake of the basketball scandal that led to the firing of coach Mike Rice and the resignation of athletic director Tim Pernetti.

The source spoke on the condition of anonymity Monday because the appointment had not been announced by the university. The Star-Ledger of Newark first reported the decision.

This is the second time that Kirschner will run the program. He took over at the start of 2009 after Robert Mulcahy was fired, and held the role for four months, stepping down when Pernetti took over.

This time, Kirschner takes over in a time of crisis. Rutgers has seen it status plummet after ESPN aired a video last Tuesday, showing Rice grabbing and kicking players at practice while uttering anti-gay slurs.